Atheist Nexus2016-12-10T05:56:15ZMichael OLhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/MichaelOLhttp://api.ning.com:80/files/RSdPArRXA9G4e-0ofAvENPSf4wqNAkc1Z6WQOPb1S6BpXvsPKzF2pVyc7blg43z586oIp19b-zbR8xlamc3dP4f78Y77qFkf/411297497.jpeg?xgip=0%3A0%3A225%3A225%3B%3B&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://atheistnexus.org/forum/topic/listForContributor?groupUrl=loners-and-introverts&user=3mu1sv5edzkau&feed=yes&xn_auth=noIntroversion is Thoughtfulnesstag:atheistnexus.org,2015-12-06:2182797:Topic:26590292015-12-06T02:00:09.088ZMichael OLhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/MichaelOL
<p>Extroverts are exhibitionists without valuable thoughts. Their work is exploiting what introverts around them do. Thus the whole world has creations of introverts but these creations are publicized as creations of extroverts. Introversion is an asset, preserve it, promote it and expand it. It is another name for inner contentment. …</p>
<p>Extroverts are exhibitionists without valuable thoughts. Their work is exploiting what introverts around them do. Thus the whole world has creations of introverts but these creations are publicized as creations of extroverts. Introversion is an asset, preserve it, promote it and expand it. It is another name for inner contentment. <a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/OcDvEljkpZblBaDp7vvd-xvNy98zeZ0SCIgltbYDx-w6qeSsCBgz7Z-7ImtybfRTAW0UPJMIzoKMsHlEv4p4THZff*7ONSxX/happiness1.png" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/OcDvEljkpZblBaDp7vvd-xvNy98zeZ0SCIgltbYDx-w6qeSsCBgz7Z-7ImtybfRTAW0UPJMIzoKMsHlEv4p4THZff*7ONSxX/happiness1.png" width="260" class="align-left"/></a></p> Understand the Inner Life of Workplace Introvertstag:atheistnexus.org,2015-07-15:2182797:Topic:26264202015-07-15T14:08:16.016ZMichael OLhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/MichaelOL
<blockquote><p class="normalheading"><strong>Society's Perception of Introverts</strong></p>
<p class="normal">But introversion tends not to play well in our mostly social, fast-paced, extroverted American world. Indeed, says Marti Olsen Laney, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0761125892/monstercom" target="_blank"><em>The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World</em></a> and producer of its companion…</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote><p class="normalheading"><strong>Society's Perception of Introverts</strong></p>
<p class="normal">But introversion tends not to play well in our mostly social, fast-paced, extroverted American world. Indeed, says Marti Olsen Laney, author of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0761125892/monstercom"><em>The Introvert Advantage: How to Thrive in an Extrovert World</em></a> and producer of its companion <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theintrovertadvantage.com">Web site</a>, introverts "are often misunderstood, because our culture overvalues extroverted skills like acting and speaking quickly."</p>
<p class="normal">Thus, it's common for workplace introverts to be saddled with negative descriptions like:</p>
<ul>
<li class="normal">Antisocial, loner, shy, not a team player. </li>
<li class="normal">Inattentive, passive-aggressive, withholds information. </li>
<li class="normal">Slow, unproductive, lacking ability. </li>
<li class="normal">Unenthusiastic. </li>
</ul>
<p class="normal">Well, guess what, American workers: There's nothing wrong with us introverts. We're just different from the extroverts of the world. In fact, every negative label that's typically assigned to introverts has a positive opposite that's closer to the truth:</p>
<ul>
<li class="normal">We tend to take the phrase "lunch on your own" literally. But we use that time to think of creative solutions to problems, develop plans for new initiatives and nail down the pesky details that could blow a big deal apart if ignored. <br/> </li>
<li class="normal">Sure, we may not have ideas to share until after a meeting is over, but those ideas will invariably be well-thought-out and thorough. If they weren't, we wouldn't bother sharing them in the first place. <br/> </li>
<li class="normal">OK, we're sometimes guilty of appearing inattentive and passive. But it's an illusion. "Since you can't see what's going on in the mind of an introvert, many people assume nothing is going on," says Pamela Braun, a Champlin, Minnesota-based career counselor and -- let the record show -- my business partner and copresenter in our seminars on the career issues of introverts. "Wrong! The introvert, processing internally, often has as much going on inside as the extrovert is demonstrating on the outside." </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>Read the rest of the article at the link below:</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://career-advice.monster.com/in-the-office/workplace-issues/understand-workplace-introverts/article.aspx">http://career-advice.monster.com/in-the-office/workplace-issues/understand-workplace-introverts/article.aspx</a></p> WHY INTROVERTS DON'T LIKE PARTIEStag:atheistnexus.org,2015-04-16:2182797:Topic:25931792015-04-16T12:24:34.151ZMichael OLhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/MichaelOL
<div id="stcpDiv" style="xg-p: absolute; top: -1999px; left: -1988px;"><blockquote><p>Introverts, prefer to avoid excitement and pressure from the outside world. They're more reserved and thoughtful, unwilling to make quick decisions. They prefer quiet environments. Introverts feel most comfortable with a few close friends—some, in fact, actually dread crowds and will avoid large social gatherings at all costs.</p>
<p>It will have been evident from an early age whether you're more of an…</p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="xg-p: absolute; top: -1999px; left: -1988px;" id="stcpDiv"><blockquote><p>Introverts, prefer to avoid excitement and pressure from the outside world. They're more reserved and thoughtful, unwilling to make quick decisions. They prefer quiet environments. Introverts feel most comfortable with a few close friends—some, in fact, actually dread crowds and will avoid large social gatherings at all costs.</p>
<p>It will have been evident from an early age whether you're more of an extrovert or an introvert. Most psychologists agree that this tendency has a genetic basis, and that it's generally consistent throughout an individual's life.</p>
<br />
<blockquote><strong>Eysenck claimed that introverts have a more active reticular activation system, so they are by nature already highly stimulated.</strong></blockquote>
<br />
<p>Hans Eysenck, the psychologist who worked most to develop this dimension of personality, believed that the difference between introverts and extroverts is determined by the reticular activation system, or RAS. This is the area in our brain that controls our level of arousal. Eysenck claimed that introverts have a more active RAS, so they are by nature already highly stimulated. They don't, therefore, seek further encouragement to feel aroused, and they may even avoid situations where they're put under pressure to meet deadlines or to socialise frequently.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Eysenck believed that extroverts are constitutionally under-stimulated. They have a relatively quiet RAS, so they need to obtain arousal from outside themselves. Extroverts therefore seek the very crowds and deadlines that introverts work so hard to avoid.</p>
<p>You can find out precisely where your own proclivities lie by undergoing a full personality assessment. However, such assessments tend to be expensive and time-consuming. A quicker way to help you decide is to complete one of the many introversion/extroversion questionnaires you can find online. Here is one that I consider to be quite good:</p>
</blockquote>
Friendships<br />
<blockquote>If you're an extrovert, you'll want to spend lots of time with other people, and you're likely to choose others like yourself to accompany you on social outings. That's great in terms of a good time, but there is a danger that you could lose the necessary balance between energy expenditure and rest. It's important, therefore, that you allow yourself regular opportunities to relax. It will also help if you make sure that at least one good friend—or better yet, your partner—is more introverted than you are. That way, your partner can remind you of the need for quiet reflection, and you in turn can encourage them to reach out.</blockquote>
- See more at: <a href="http://welldoing.org/article/why-introverts-dont-like-parties//#sthash.LopAn6lV.dpuf">http://welldoing.org/article/why-introverts-dont-like-parties//#sthash.LopAn6lV.dpuf</a></div> Introversion: The Often Forgotten Factor Impacting the Giftedtag:atheistnexus.org,2015-04-16:2182797:Topic:25928862015-04-16T02:26:11.432ZMichael OLhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/MichaelOL
<p>Introversion: The Often Forgotten Factor Impacting the Gifted<br></br>Authors: Jill D. Burruss and Lisa Kaenzig<br></br>Citation: From the Virginia Association for the Gifted Newsletter. 1999 Fall 21(1).</p>
<blockquote>You know at least one or perhaps are one: the child who immediately, when he comes home from school, escapes to the privacy of his room for time alone; the speaker who presents beautifully in front of 1200 people but who leaves a few minutes into the social hour because he says he…</blockquote>
<p>Introversion: The Often Forgotten Factor Impacting the Gifted<br/>Authors: Jill D. Burruss and Lisa Kaenzig<br/>Citation: From the Virginia Association for the Gifted Newsletter. 1999 Fall 21(1).</p>
<blockquote>You know at least one or perhaps are one: the child who immediately, when he comes home from school, escapes to the privacy of his room for time alone; the speaker who presents beautifully in front of 1200 people but who leaves a few minutes into the social hour because he says he can’t deal with large groups of people; the quiet student who always has a book in hand, commonly plays alone, and whose favorite place is the reading corner; the adult who is vocal and social in a small group of people but who becomes silent and withdrawn if she is made to work in a larger one; the adolescent with only one best friend who lives in another city or state and who is content with that situation; or the individual who when attending a conference or convention can only take so much socializing and hustle and has to retreat to the privacy of her hotel room to ‘re-center’ herself.</blockquote>
<p><strong>Some Characteristics of Introverts</strong></p>
<p>Are territorial – desire private space and time<br/> Are happy to be alone – they can be lonely in a crowd<br/> Become drained around large groups of people; dislike attending parties<br/> Need time alone to recharge<br/> Prefer to work on own rather than do group work<br/> Act cautiously in meeting people<br/> Are reserved, quiet and deliberate<br/> Do not enjoy being the center of attention<br/> Do not share private thoughts with just anyone<br/> Form a few deep attachments<br/> Think carefully before speaking (practice in my head before I speak)<br/> See reflection as very important<br/> Concentrate well and deeply<br/> Become absorbed in thoughts and ideas<br/> Limit their interests but explore deeply<br/> Communicate best one-on-one<br/> Get agitated and irritated without enough time alone or undisturbed<br/> Select activities carefully and thoughtfully</p>
<p></p>
<p>For full article:</p>
<p><a href="https://sengifted.org/archives/articles/introversion-the-often-forgotten-factor-impacting-the-gifted">https://sengifted.org/archives/articles/introversion-the-often-forgotten-factor-impacting-the-gifted</a></p> Introverts’ and extroverts’ brains really are different, according to sciencetag:atheistnexus.org,2015-03-09:2182797:Topic:25802762015-03-09T14:51:09.143ZMichael OLhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/MichaelOL
<p><strong>This is a very good article - I post some of it here for you all to read.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/7WaW*6Bsqz0yzxADKjZfsDvruXBhlXs79yMlHLzVllQzIW*hsA1Xg-NrgzdngW3mVkBjWy3qse40NV4o0H5W7XE5hGv7l9xp/aztek_by_fogked55k4pw690x460.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/7WaW*6Bsqz0yzxADKjZfsDvruXBhlXs79yMlHLzVllQzIW*hsA1Xg-NrgzdngW3mVkBjWy3qse40NV4o0H5W7XE5hGv7l9xp/aztek_by_fogked55k4pw690x460.jpg" width="690"></img></a></p>
<div class="entry-meta"><span class="vcard author"><span>By</span> <a class="url fn n" href="http://introvertdear.com/author/jenniferwp/" rel="author"><span>Jenn Granneman…</span></a></span></div>
<p><strong>This is a very good article - I post some of it here for you all to read.</strong></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/7WaW*6Bsqz0yzxADKjZfsDvruXBhlXs79yMlHLzVllQzIW*hsA1Xg-NrgzdngW3mVkBjWy3qse40NV4o0H5W7XE5hGv7l9xp/aztek_by_fogked55k4pw690x460.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/7WaW*6Bsqz0yzxADKjZfsDvruXBhlXs79yMlHLzVllQzIW*hsA1Xg-NrgzdngW3mVkBjWy3qse40NV4o0H5W7XE5hGv7l9xp/aztek_by_fogked55k4pw690x460.jpg" width="690"/></a></p>
<div class="entry-meta"><span class="vcard author"><span>By</span> <a href="http://introvertdear.com/author/jenniferwp/" class="url fn n" rel="author"><span>Jenn Granneman</span></a></span> <span class="entry-category"><a href="http://introvertdear.com/category/science/">Science</a></span>March 4, 2015</div>
<div class="entry-meta"></div>
<div class="entry-meta"><blockquote><p>Why do extroverts like action, and introverts like calm?</p>
<p>It has to do with two powerful chemicals — dopamine and acetylcholine, “jolt juices” that hugely impact our behavior, according to J. Allan Hobson, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard.</p>
<p>Dopamine gives immediate, intense zaps of happiness when its users act quickly, take risks, and seek novelty.</p>
<p>Acetylcholine also rewards us, but its effects are more subtle. It makes us feel relaxed, alert, and content.</p>
<p>We introverts are more sensitive to dopamine, so too much of it makes us overstimulated and anxious, according to Dr. Marti Olsen Laney, who writes about the differences between introverted and extroverted brains in her book, <em>The Introvert Advantage</em>.</p>
<p>Extroverts are less sensitive to dopamine, so they require more of it to feel its pleasant effects. The more extroverts talk, move, and seek new faces, the more their brains light up with dopamine’s happiness hits.</p>
<p></p>
<p>On the flip side, acetylcholine makes us introverts feel good when we study, concentrate, or use our minds in any way, but extroverts hardly register this jolt juice’s gentle happiness bump.</p>
<h4>We use different “sides” of our nervous system.</h4>
<p>We all have two sides to our nervous system — the sympathetic side, which triggers the <em>fight, fright, or flight</em> response, and the parasympathetic side, which puts us in <em>rest and digest</em> mode.</p>
<p>Think about the sympathetic side as hitting the gas pedal, and the parasympathetic side as slamming on the brakes.</p>
<p>When the sympathetic system is activated, a person’s body gears up for action. Adrenaline is released, glucose energizes muscles, and oxygen increases. Areas of the brain that control thinking are turned off, although dopamine increases alertness in the back of the brain.</p>
<p>In parasympathetic mode, muscles relax, energy is stored, and food is metabolized. Acetylcholine increases blood flow and alertness in the front of the brain.</p>
<p>Of course, both extroverts and introverts use both sides at different times. But which side do introverts prefer? You’ve probably already guessed: the parasympathetic side, according to Dr. Laney.</p>
<h4>We use different brain pathways.</h4>
<p>Ever wonder why, as an introvert, you take longer to process things, or why you “overthink”?</p>
<p>It has to do with us introverts processing stimuli differently.</p>
<p>When stimulation enters an extrovert’s brain, the pathway to process it is much shorter. It travels through areas of the brain where taste, touch, visual, and auditory sensory processing take place.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p>Read the rest of the article at the link below:</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://introvertdear.com/2015/03/04/introverts-and-extroverts-brains-really-are-different-according-to-science/?utm_content=buffer8e806&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter.com&amp;utm_campaign=buffer">http://introvertdear.com/2015/03/04/introverts-and-extroverts-brains-really-are-different-according-to-science/?utm_content=buffer8e806&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter.com&amp;utm_campaign=buffer</a></p> 7 Positives Only Introverts Would Understandtag:atheistnexus.org,2015-01-04:2182797:Topic:25282282015-01-04T02:45:38.766ZMichael OLhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/MichaelOL
<p>There’s an avalanche of information about introverts on the web. The great thing about it is that it helps a lot of people realize their own introverted tendencies. Many introverts are beginning to understand why situations commonly perceived as problems by many are, well, simply non-problems for them. Here are some of those positives only introverts would understand.…</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>There’s an avalanche of information about introverts on the web. The great thing about it is that it helps a lot of people realize their own introverted tendencies. Many introverts are beginning to understand why situations commonly perceived as problems by many are, well, simply non-problems for them. Here are some of those positives only introverts would understand.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/RjUGj58MiaEsiVrb8lJU4IGyRZs*9Pcy680QBgWpZfmEKgukTyC6Ql9SeK-a*Nb4tq0n7IasOEAcdBzP77EG4n946fJq0fFl/introvert01.png"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/RjUGj58MiaEsiVrb8lJU4IGyRZs*9Pcy680QBgWpZfmEKgukTyC6Ql9SeK-a*Nb4tq0n7IasOEAcdBzP77EG4n946fJq0fFl/introvert01.png" width="640"/></a></p>
<p>1. They love cancelled parties.</p>
<p>Introverts love cancelled parties. Okay, maybe love is too strong a word. But an introvert really wouldn’t mind if a big party he was invited to suddenly got cancelled or postponed.</p>
<p>Partying with a big group of people for a long period of time zaps an introvert’s energy. To expend less energy, introverts enjoy one-on-one conversations instead of group activities. You may know someone who’s dubbed as a “kill joy” because he wants to leave a party early. Stop the name-calling and consider that maybe that person is just tired and needs to recharge by spending some time by himself. He could be an introvert.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Read the rest of the list at the link below:</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/7-positives-only-introverts-would-understand.html">http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/7-positives-only-introverts-would-understand.html</a></p> Why you should tell people you are an Introverttag:atheistnexus.org,2014-06-09:2182797:Topic:24331182014-06-09T15:47:09.412ZMichael OLhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/MichaelOL
<p><strong>I have unfortunately had the response of "I can help fix you" ... which after that I no longer want to be friends with that person. Here is a good blog about telling others about being an Introvert.</strong></p>
<blockquote><p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>Telling others you are an introvert is often more difficult than it sounds. Despite the recent surge in books, websites and articles about this topic, many people still have no clue what introversion is. Or worse, they have bought into…</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>I have unfortunately had the response of "I can help fix you" ... which after that I no longer want to be friends with that person. Here is a good blog about telling others about being an Introvert.</strong></p>
<blockquote><p></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>Telling others you are an introvert is often more difficult than it sounds. Despite the recent surge in books, websites and articles about this topic, many people still have no clue what introversion is. Or worse, they have bought into unflattering introvert stereotypes.</p>
<p>Many misguided souls still believe that all introverts are shy, antisocial weirdos who don’t know how to interact with other humans. So. Not. True.</p>
<p>The fact that there is such widespread ignorance about introversion makes the task of telling others we are introverted more intimidating. <span id="more-226"></span>Despite this, I remain a strong advocate for spreading the word about introversion.</p>
<p>I regularly tell people I’m an introvert either in conversation or by directing them to this blog. Reactions have ranged from, “oh, cool” to “a whosa-whatsa-vert?” to “maybe I can help fix you”.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Read the rest at the link below: <a href="http://introvertspring.com/why-you-should-tell-people-you-are-an-introvert/">http://introvertspring.com/why-you-should-tell-people-you-are-an-introvert/</a></p> Quiet Quiz: Are You an Introvert or an Extrovert?tag:atheistnexus.org,2014-02-06:2182797:Topic:23766992014-02-06T17:38:55.650ZMichael OLhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/MichaelOL
<div class="test-area"></div>
<p>This is an informal 12 question quiz, adapted from <em>Quiet</em> by Susan Cain, based on characteristics of introversion commonly accepted by contemporary researchers.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Take the quiz at the link below:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/quiet-quiz-are-you-an-introvert/">http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/quiet-quiz-are-you-an-introvert/</a></p>
<div class="test-area"></div>
<p>This is an informal 12 question quiz, adapted from <em>Quiet</em> by Susan Cain, based on characteristics of introversion commonly accepted by contemporary researchers.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Take the quiz at the link below:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/quiet-quiz-are-you-an-introvert/">http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/quiet-quiz-are-you-an-introvert/</a></p> Why Introverts May Be More Successful Than Youtag:atheistnexus.org,2013-12-05:2182797:Topic:23447762013-12-05T12:37:43.998ZMichael OLhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/MichaelOL
<p><a href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/why-introverts-may-be-more-successful-than-you.html" target="_blank">Why Introverts May Be More Successful Than You</a></p>
<p>"as a recent Huffington Post article pointed out, there have been many exceptional speakers and myths most of my life: all introverts are desperately shy and have little to no social skills; they hate groups and all they want is to be alone; since they like being alone, they are either depressed or sad all the time; they…</p>
<p><a href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/why-introverts-may-be-more-successful-than-you.html" target="_blank">Why Introverts May Be More Successful Than You</a></p>
<p>"as a recent Huffington Post article pointed out, there have been many exceptional speakers and myths most of my life: all introverts are desperately shy and have little to no social skills; they hate groups and all they want is to be alone; since they like being alone, they are either depressed or sad all the time; they don’t make good leaders or good speakers; they don’t do things that require them to be in the spotlight. Very <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/13/famous-introverts_n_3733400.html" target="_blank">successful introverts</a> who counter these myths. Among the most successful introverts are Bill Gates, J.K. Rowling, Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, Warren Buffett, Albert Einstein and even Gandhi."</p>
<p>~ <a rel="author" href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/author/judi" title="Posts by Judi Gerber" style="font-size: 13px;">Judi Gerber</a></p>
<p>Thought of you Steph. </p>
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/ghQaMsDvf5ViikqcxFDAL7mYw6LJEqzFySdn6m28ha-KVENC*sjKmIwZa05JMHnkMZTMwwZO7GoKSmVrjpjv*8N71BxHu8jD/introvert_strengths_word_cloud_2_journal.jpg" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/ghQaMsDvf5ViikqcxFDAL7mYw6LJEqzFySdn6m28ha-KVENC*sjKmIwZa05JMHnkMZTMwwZO7GoKSmVrjpjv*8N71BxHu8jD/introvert_strengths_word_cloud_2_journal.jpg?width=300" width="300" class="align-full" height="306"/></a></p>
<p></p> How introverts react to extrovert bullyingtag:atheistnexus.org,2013-11-22:2182797:Topic:23342072013-11-22T00:33:16.783ZMichael OLhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/MichaelOL
<blockquote><p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/kAYh-M0ij9PlaaT30NdBLoJICOR5kWd7WA11XRqHIpeUt*g8hKKv9QkRv*L7qVY-TEk7Nl0TDRVtJe0gzznqtAF6VVzP6AL9/Turtlevs.Porcupine.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/kAYh-M0ij9PlaaT30NdBLoJICOR5kWd7WA11XRqHIpeUt*g8hKKv9QkRv*L7qVY-TEk7Nl0TDRVtJe0gzznqtAF6VVzP6AL9/Turtlevs.Porcupine.jpg?width=750" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>“[A]t school you might have been prodded to come “out of your shell”—that noxious expression which fails to appreciate that some animals naturally carry shelter everywhere they go, and that some humans are just the same.” ~Susan Cain</strong> …</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote><p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/kAYh-M0ij9PlaaT30NdBLoJICOR5kWd7WA11XRqHIpeUt*g8hKKv9QkRv*L7qVY-TEk7Nl0TDRVtJe0gzznqtAF6VVzP6AL9/Turtlevs.Porcupine.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/kAYh-M0ij9PlaaT30NdBLoJICOR5kWd7WA11XRqHIpeUt*g8hKKv9QkRv*L7qVY-TEk7Nl0TDRVtJe0gzznqtAF6VVzP6AL9/Turtlevs.Porcupine.jpg?width=750" width="750"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>“[A]t school you might have been prodded to come “out of your shell”—that noxious expression which fails to appreciate that some animals naturally carry shelter everywhere they go, and that some humans are just the same.” ~Susan Cain</strong> <br/></p>
<p><strong>The Protective Shell</strong></p>
<p>Like turtles, introverts arm themselves with a protective outer shell. This comes in handy when we face people and situations that endanger both our energy levels and our self-esteem. It also helps us survive insults and criticism from insensitive extroverts. Unkind words bounce off our shells instead of penetrating our soft, squishy interior.</p>
<p>Our shell manifests itself in our guarded nature. We tend to be slow to trust new people and slower still to reveal our true selves to them.</p>
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<p><strong>The Porcupine Effect </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong>For some introverts, metaphorical armor isn’t enough. Years of enduring hurtful comments from brash extroverts (ie. “you’re weird”, “party pooper”, “you’re too quiet”) can cause us to develop a porcupine-like exterior. Our spikes begin to come out at the mere mention of the word “extrovert”.</p>
<p>One need only browse through the comments section of introvert blogs and pages to confirm that many introverts harbor feelings of hostility toward extroverts. Some honest self-examination revealed that I too have succumbed to the porcupine effect. Well-intentioned extroverts stir up hostility in me because they remind me of people who hurt my feelings in the past. Speaking of which …</p>
<p><strong>The Extrovert Bully </strong></p>
<p>A few years ago, while standing in line in front of Darcy’s Pub, I encountered an introvert’s worst nightmare: the drunken, obnoxious extrovert bully. I’m sure you’ve come across his species before. This kind of extrovert is loud, pushy and completely oblivious to the feelings of others. He relishes spewing slurred insults at anyone who seems different. He is also master of pointing out the obvious (ie. “you’re really quiet”).</p>
<p>That fateful night, Captain Obvious decided that I would be his target. Being the genius that he was, he immediately picked up on the fact that I was different. “Why are you so quiet?” he stammered loudly. “It’s weird and I don’t like it. You should talk more.”</p>
<p>Words escaped me. A vicious retort formed in my mind, but couldn’t find its way past my lips. Instead, one of my loyal and totally fierce extroverted girlfriends unleashed her fury on him. But it was too late. The damage was already done.</p>
<p>This experience and several others sharpened my quills and made me more leery of all extroverts.</p>
<p><strong>The Wounded Turtle </strong></p>
<p>Of course, the porcupine effect isn’t the only way that introverts react to extrovert bullying. Often, neither sword nor shield can protect us from hurtful words and situations. Instead, we internalize things. We begin to believe that something is wrong with us. We become like a wounded turtle whose shell has been ruptured.</p>
<p>So, what happens when a turtle’s shell is penetrated and her gummy green interior is pierced? Well, if this tortoise is anything like me, she’ll lock herself in the bathroom and cry for 20 minutes because someone told her she’s strange (don’t tell anyone, but this actually happened to me last week – can you recognize me in the picture below?).</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://introvertspring.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Sad-Turtle.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-372" alt="Wounded Turtle" src="http://introvertspring.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Sad-Turtle.jpg" height="432" width="578"/></a></p>
<p><strong>"Has anyone else had a wounded turtle moment like mine? Do you become a prickly porcupine around extroverts? How thick is your shell? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below."</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://introvertspring.com/how-introverts-react-to-extrovert-bullying-the-tortoise-shell-vs-the-porcupine-effect/">http://introvertspring.com/how-introverts-react-to-extrovert-bullying-the-tortoise-shell-vs-the-porcupine-effect/</a></strong></p>
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